GPH probing death of baby after suspected misdiagnosis

The Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) is investigating the death of a five-month baby who was apparently misdiagnosed with chikungunya instead of being treated for bronchopneumonia, Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan said yesterday.

The infant, Eimi Patterson, died at the GPH after being on life support for 11 days in the Intensive Care Unit. She was buried yesterday afternoon.

According to the infant’s mother Cindy Best, Eimi fell sick three weeks ago with a severe cough.

She was taken to the public hospital for treatment, Best said, and a doctor told her that the child was exhibiting early signs of chikungunya. She said the doctor then gave her Panadol syrup for the infant and sent her away. However, a few days later the child’s condition worsened and Best took the child to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where a doctor told her that the child had bronchopneumonia.

Best subsequently took the child back to the GPH and asked the doctor who treated her on the first occasion why she said the child had chikungunya instead of testing for bronchopneumonia. She said she waited an entire day at the hospital before the doctor gave her an explanation. “But what she tell me wasn’t no proper answer. She didn’t tell me why they didn’t know that that was what was wrong with my baby.

All she asking me is why I didn’t tell her the baby had that,” the woman said.

Khan yesterday stated that he was unable to comment immediately on any deaths at the hospital and as such an investigation was launched and as soon as they received their findings the public would be notified.

Best made a call for the hospital to improve its health care system, while stating that the less mistakes doctors make the better for everyone.

She said her child’s death was a great mistake and if they had found out what was wrong with the baby from the inception they could have saved her life.

When contacted yesterday, Best said a post-mortem examination was conducted on the child’s body and she is expected to collect the results today.